Almost 200 jobs feared lost as soft furnishings firm goes into administration

Almost 200 jobs are at risk after an historic St Helens soft-furnishings manufacturer announced it has gone into administration.

It is feared that 167 jobs could be lost at family-run firm Ena Shaw, which was founded in 1932, after it was unable to find a buyer to save it from closure.

The company, which makes and resells soft furnishings, has a factory at Lea Green and a store on Duke Street.

It is understood that directors took the decision to appoint administrators due to difficult trading conditions.

The St Helens Star quoted a spokesman for the company as saying: “The company has ceased to trade with immediate effect, and regrettably the majority of the employees have been made redundant, while a small number of staff have been retained in the short term to assist administrators with the wind down of operations.”

Lindsey Cooper and Chris Ratten of RSM Restructuring Advisory have been appointed as joint administrators.

Ms Cooper said: “Ena Shaw has recently faced challenging trading conditions resulting from an unsettled retail market and increased competition from online and overseas manufacturers.

“It is always very sad when a long-standing family business with close community ties has to close.

“We will be working alongside staff from Job Centre Plus to assist employees with their claims to the Redundancy Payments Service.

“Creditors, customers and other interested parties will be contacted in due course.”

The company was founded by machinist Ena Shaw who made loose covers and curtains from the original shop on Corporation Street.

During the Second World War the company made blackout curtains, and more recently provided curtains for accommodation in London’s 2012 Olympic village.